Birch & Willow Spa set to launch this month

After traveling a longer-than-anticipated road to completing infill, the owners behind a new spa in Branson anticipate opening as early as next week.

Jami Kysar, who co-owns Birch & Willow Spa LLC with her mother, Jodi Lilly, said business licenses with the city and the Missouri Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners are all that remain to be acquired before the venture opens its doors at 4562 Gretna Road, Ste. 4524, in The Shoppes at Branson Meadows.

“We’re still waiting for inspections to be able to get our business license, but I would say about a week or so, depending on how quick the city is,” Kyser said of a projected opening date, adding she’s confident of a November start. “We’re basically just in a waiting period now.”

In the interim, the owners have a ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled for Thursday at the spa with the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Kysar and Lilly originally targeted an early May launch for Birch & Willow Spa, according to past Springfield Business Journal reporting. But Kysar said factors such as getting their design plans from Pete Long with Design One Architects LLC approved by the city and supply chain shortage issues contributed to the delays.

“It was a lot more than what I ever imagined. This is my first time doing something like this,” Kysar said, noting infill work, including cutting concrete and moving sprinklers, as well as sewer and water lines, took longer than expected. “Just the little details have been a lot.”

While admitting the delays were initially frustrating, Kysar said it’s served as a learning experience as she embarks on her first business ownership venture. However, she said startup costs have doubled to $240,000 from her original estimates.

The owners have hired 10 to work at the 3,200-square-foot spa upon opening and signed a three-year lease for an undisclosed rate with Maples Properties LLC, she said.

Birch & Willow Spa will offer a menu of services, including massages, facials and body treatments, as well as salon options such as haircuts, manicures, pedicures and eyelash extensions. Massages range $50-$150 for service times between 30 and 90 minutes. Haircuts start at $25 for children, $30 for men and $50 for women, according to the spa’s website.

Memberships also will be offered, ranging from $85-$140 per month. Kysar said roughly 30 people have expressed interest in obtaining a membership, which will be sold upon the spa’s opening and offer discounts and free services for clients.